Category: beauty

beauty

Beauty Products I’m Taking Into 2022 With Me

by hannah maisieLeave a Comment on Beauty Products I’m Taking Into 2022 With Me

I love trying new beauty products but sometimes when I find a product I love, I just hold onto it and keep repurchasing. I mean if it works for your skin then why not, especially as mine can be sensitive. I’m looking forward to seeing what new products are launched into the beautysphere this year but there are definitely some staples that I will be carrying over from 2021.

Lacura Q10 Moisturiser – I could rave about this day in and day out, it’s literally £1.50! I mean apart from the unreal price tag this is actually a great product. It leaves my skin feeling super hydrated and provides a great base for my makeup. Aldi have been praised for their Lacura beauty line and it’s so easy to see why; the products are great quality and super affordable. I know this is going to be a staple for years to come.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution – With this one being a peel, I don’t use it too often but every time I do, I love it! My skin is always glowing and again the next time I wear makeup, it’s definitely longer wearing.

No 7 Stay Perfect Foundation – I can’t even tell you how many years I have been using this. I was colour matched perfectly so it’s great to be able to walk in, grab a bottle and know that it is going to match my skin tone and not make me look orange. I have tried a few other foundations since using this one but I just always come back to it! It’s a medium coverage which you can easily build so it’s perfect for all day everyday.

Nivea Micellar Water – I’ve recently been using more cream cleansers and cleansing balms but I will always have a bottle of micellar water to hand as it’s so quick and easy. Let’s face it, we all get into bed with a full face of makeup on, get comfy and can’t be bothered to do a full skincare routine so this is just a must for my lazy days, which I must admit there are a lot of.

Goodness Every Morning Moisturiser – Ending the same way I started; with a moisturiser because let’s face it, you can’t ever have too many. I actually picked this one up in TK Maxx and was immediately enticed by all of the natural ingredients and super foods in it. I use this mainly at night and my skin is so soft and hydrated in the morning. I’ll definitely be getting some more products from this brand.

What are some of your staple products for 2022?

beauty, Events

Seekology Event

by hannah maisieLeave a Comment on Seekology Event

Who remembers the days before Covid where we could actually go to blogger events? Well I was kindly invited to my first one last night which was hosted by Seekology, a company created to showcase independent British brands and it was fab!

The event was held in Covent Garden ahead of their pop up store which opens today until 19th September to coincide with British Beauty week – so exciting. The store will showcase 25 independent British brands who were all on display for us to get hands on with. There was a complete mix of different products including henna, soy wax candles, natural skincare and pyjamas and each were so uniquely beautiful. As soon as I arrived I was overwhelmed by how pretty everything was set out, each brand had it’s own space to really show off what they were about. I wasted no time in heading for a glass of prosecco so I could get a lay of the land before mingling with the brand owners and other bloggers. It was so interesting and motivating learning about how each brand came to be and how they are succeeding and thriving.

I think the effects of Covid are still very apparent, especially for smaller, independent businesses, so this event was fantastic at bringing them to our radars and making sure they were really celebrated. Each brand was so different from the others but they all had one thing in common, in that they are really exactly what they claim to be, no showing off. I loved every brand but my personal favourite of the evening was Juni Cosmetics which was created by makeup artist Madeleine White and focuses on lip care. The products on show were absolutely beautiful, a full range of classic everyday lipsticks to suite every skin tone. The packaging is also completely recyclable as it is made from aluminium as opposed to plastic so you know that you are doing your part for the environment which is definitely something that is super important to me.

Some of the other brands that are part of the pop up are:

Skin Genius – https://skin-genius.co.uk/

Clarity Blend – https://www.clarityblend.com/

Jenny Betts – https://www.jennybettslondon.co.uk/

Heka Aromatherapy – https://www.hekaaromatherapy.com/

Hopefully this is the start of more regular events again because I didn’t realise just how much I missed it.

beauty

Is The Aldi Skincare Range Worth The Hype?

by hannah maisie2 Comments on Is The Aldi Skincare Range Worth The Hype?

If you know me, you will know I am a huge fan of Aldi, not just in general but more specifically their skincare. I’ve featured some of their products on my blog and YouTube before but is it really worth the hype? Some of the products that they have come out with are quite similar to higher end products but are successful in their own right; with some even wining awards and special recognition.

Now when Aldi first came out with skincare, I’ll admit, I was sceptical. Mostly because it was a supermarket and they aren’t renowned for their cosmetics, least not their own brand but as they say ‘never judge a book by it’s cover.’ Now I can’t remember what product I used first but what I do know is that it was years ago and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve tried everything from moisturisers, toners, hot cloth cleansers and eye creams and if you asked me to pick a favourite, I don’t think I could. That’s how much I love everything.

There are products to suit all skin types and textures and most of the products are cruelty free – which is definitely something I look out for the most when looking for products. The formulas are so gentle and soft and everything I have tried has left my face feeling clean, soft and nourished without leaving a huge hole in my purse. My current favourite products I am using daily are the avocado eye cream, the Q10 moisturiser and the H2O sleeping mask.

I mean I could have told you in the first sentence that yes; the Lacura range is worth the hype but of course I wanted to build some suspense ha! Have you tried any of the skincare from Aldi and if so, what one is your favourite?

beauty

First Impressions: Collection Lasting Perfection Dewy Foundation

by hannah maisieLeave a Comment on First Impressions: Collection Lasting Perfection Dewy Foundation

I have seen so many people raving about the new Lasting Perfection Dewy foundation from Collection so I had to give it a go especially as I am a huge fan of the concealer. I am currently using the No.7 Lasting Perfection foundation and have been for years and I absolutely love it but I wanted to see how this one compared. I found the foundation in Superdrug and it was only £6; which for a foundation which claims to be full coverage, I thought was a steal.

When I pumped the foundation onto my sponge, it did feel quite thick and gloopy and as someone who suffers with dry skin I was quite worried but I had no reason too as it blended so well. I did struggle with finding a shade as you can’t swatch in store and we all know how appalling the lighting in drugstores are; so I played it safe and went for shade 5 which actually matched me pretty well but the fact it was so blendable reassured me that if I went a shade too dark it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Now, the true question I hear you ask; is it full coverage? I’d say no, it was more medium but it was definitely buildable and even with a few layers it didn’t feel or look cakey on my skin. It actually felt so natural and lightweight which I was really impressed by.

I did my makeup at about 10am and went on quite a long walk as I really wanted to put it to the test. As soon as I put it on, I was in love; it looked so flawless and radiant on my skin and the rest of my makeup sat on top of it really well. I wondered if it would look as good outside in natural daylight and it definitely did; so lightweight and dewy. I kept the makeup on until the evening at around 8pm and I was so pleased with how it looked. I do tend to get quite an oily T zone and I found that this was still the case but the make up didn’t really move around and with a bit of powder I think it would have looked as good as it did when I first put it on.

Taking the makeup off was also super easy, I just used some micellar water and cleanser and it came right off and didn’t leave my skin feeling irritated or like I still had product on which is something I find thicker foundations can do. I mean for £6 I am so impressed with this foundation and already can’t wait to wear it again. If you have oily skin, they do also do a matte version of the Lasting Perfection foundation which I believe is the same price so there is definitely something for everyone.

Have you ever tried it and if not what is your favourite foundation currently?

beauty

Natural Beauty: Coconut & Orange Deo | Guest post by To Be Natural Beauty

by hannah maisieLeave a Comment on Natural Beauty: Coconut & Orange Deo | Guest post by To Be Natural Beauty

Hi everyone! I am B (to.be_natural_beauty) and I’m joining Hannah today for a much welcome blog collaboration. Hope you enjoy the topic

Some people call it eco-beauty. Some people call it a green luxury. Some may believe it is only related to products to use on your skin. Some believe that it goes from what we eat to what we wear. The fact is that it is all around us and nowadays it’s challenging to find someone who doesn’t care (in one way or another) for this topic.

I was 6 years old when I first started to look at natural beauty and my interest in it grew up together with me. Today, I am an aroma, massage and reflexology therapist in love with natural ingredients and their impact on our health and body.

Since I’ve started to make my own blends and natural beauty products, I saw that I had in hands the perfect opportunity to not only adjust my life to a more natural living purpose but also to integrate the zero-waste culture in it. The truth is that nature gives us all we need to live a healthy life and because of the way the society is structured we will always find something around us that is worth repurposing so, why not give it a try?

Let me give you an example: even though I have always tried to live a natural lifestyle, there were a few swaps that I have always struggled to do. Deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash I just couldn’t believe they would be as good as the ones we bought from the supermarket. And, to be honest with you, I was super scared of going out and suddenly the sweaty smell was coming from me… But, one day, we stayed at home and I decided to give it a try. And you know what? It worked! And today, I wouldn’t swap my natural ingredient deodorant for any other! Can you imagine the relief of knowing that you won’t stink but also that you are not using any chemical, no antiperspirant stuff on your skin? Trust me, that is gold! I’ll share the recipe with you so that you can try and let me know your thoughts:

Natural Coconut & Orange deodorant:

1/3 cup of coconut oil;

¼ cup Baking soda;

¼ cup arrowroot powder;

4 tablespoons of corn starch;

10 to 15 drops of Sweet orange essential oil.

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Mix the dry ingredients and add the melted coconut oil and the orange essential oil after. Put it in a repurposed deodorant container and you’re good to go! You can also find the video and the recipe on my Instagram page to.be_natural_beauty.

It doesn’t get any easier than this to be a natural beaut!

beauty, Lifestyle

Pamper Night Essentials

by hannah maisieLeave a Comment on Pamper Night Essentials

I love a good pamper night and feel like I am doing them every week at the moment so I thought I would share a few of my essential products with you.

I don’t know about you but I haven’t really worn makeup at all the last few weeks but I still go in with a double cleanse. I start off with some micellar water which I feel like everyone uses but if you’re looking for a good one, I can’t recommend the Nivea one enough, it dries so quickly and doesn’t leave your face feeling sticky at all. Then I go in my long time love, the Lacura hot cloth cleanser and I work this in with my Foreo which is another staple that I can’t go without. Together, this combo gently exfoliates my skin and leaves if feeling cleaner and looking brighter.

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Now what pamper night is complete without a face mask? (the answer is none) My recent love is the famous pink clay mask from Alya Skincare*; there are actually no words to describe how good this is. You can either use it all over your face or in certain areas if you just need a little boost. It dries so quick and washes off like a dream and trust me when I say it leaves your skin glowingggg! I used to stray away from clay masks as I didn’t like the agg/mess of washing them off but this has encouraged me to give them another go.

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After I have done a mask, I like to make sure that I go in with a strong moisturiser and the one I have been recently using is the H2O Ultra-Hydrating Water Gel from Antipodes*. It smells like roses which is actually one of my favourite smells and this leaves my skin feeling incredible! I suffer from dry skin so this has been a life saver lately and I can’t recommend it enough. It also makes my makeup look a lot nicer because there are no dry patches for my foundation to cling too. An all round winner!

What are your pamper night essentials?

Hannah X

*All products marked have been kindly gifted to me on a pr basis but all opinions and feedback are my own after own use.

beauty

Foreo Luna Review

by hannah maisieLeave a Comment on Foreo Luna Review

I had seen people using the Foreo all over my Instagram and every single person was raving about how good it is so of course I had to jump on the bandwagon.

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I was looking around for ages and actually found a few in TKMaxx so thought I would bite the bullet and get one. I must admit, I was very skeptical but I think that was because my skin is super sensitive and I was worried the bristles were going to irritate my skin and cause me to break out but this was definitely not the case.

I first started using the Foreo with the Aldi hot cloth cleanser and it worked a treat, my skin always felt so clean and soft. I recently started using a vitamin C cleansing oil and it has upped my skincare routine massively. My skin not only feels soft, it looks cleaner and so much brighter and healthier. I actually now look forward to doing a full skin care routine and are a point of it no matter how tired I am (usually I am the worst culprit for using a bit of micellar water and calling it a day)

I am so happy I purchased one, it literally is my life saver and 1 charge last 7 months so I am always good to go.

Have you ever used a Foreo?

Hannah X

beauty

Procoal Foot Mask

by hannah maisieLeave a Comment on Procoal Foot Mask

I am not the biggest fan of feet at all but I know it’s important to look after them. So when Procoal offered for me to try out their foot mask* I was very intrigued.

The boot type mask is designed to break through dry and callous skin and allow it to peel away leaving you with visibly softer feet in just 2 weeks. I can’t lie, I was a bit nervous to try them because I could just imagine my skin peeling in clumps and flakes but it wasn’t that bad. Granted I only done them a week ago so haven’t seen the full effects.

My feet do already feel so much smoother which is perfect as I’m going on holiday next week so I will be fully prepared. I am so impressed and can’t wat to try out more products from procoal.

-Hannah X

*This contains a gifted pr product. Thank you so much Procoal for working with me on this post xx

beauty, Fashion

Must Have Perfumes

by hannah maisie1 Comment on Must Have Perfumes

I’ve been told that I have this talent for smelling someone’s perfume and knowing exactly what it is and it got me thinking about my favourite perfumes because there are a lot.

Alien – Thierry Mugler

This is such a classic smell! I think I have been wearing this for a few years and I’m pretty sure it will always be in my collection. It lasts so well but I sometimes like to top up with the Superdrug Blossom spray which smells exactly the same but for a smaller price range of about £4 ( that’s a secret between us)

Tiffany – Tiffany and Co

I am a huge Tiffany fan so was incredibly excited when they bought out a fragrance. Aside from it looking so pretty on my vanity in it’s blue box, it smells divine. It’s very light and floral which makes it the perfect daytime scent.

Daisy – Marc Jacobs

Just like alien, this will always be a staple scent for me and one that I have been wearing for years. I first bought it when I went to New York back in 2011 so it does hold a special place in my heart as a reminder of my favourite city. It’s like and fresh so great for the days but this is a good transition fragrance for the evenings too.

Si – Giorgio Armani

This one is the perfect evening smell as its so strong. It’s still floral but there are some muskier notes too it. A little definitely goes a long way with this one and you very rarely find you need to top yourself up with it

What are your favourite fragrances?

-Hannah X

beauty, Lifestyle

Orsett Hall Spa

by hannah maisie2 Comments on Orsett Hall Spa

I’m all about treating yourself but something I’ve never done is have a spa day. I’ve been for massages but never done the whole walk around in a robe and flip flops thing so when the girls suggest one I was so eager to book.

We looked through for days trying to find the perfect package; honestly, there are so many spas in Essex, and finally decided for Orsett Hall. The package that we chose included afternoon tea, fully use of facilities and a treatment which I thought was so good! We could chose the treatment and opted for a back massage each but also decided to add on a facial to make the most of our day.

As I’ve said, I have never been to a spa day before so didn’t know what to expect although it all seemed straight forward. As soon as we arrived, we headed to the garden restaurant for afternoon tea which was full of all the classic sandwiches and some amazing sweet treat like macaroons and brownies.

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We then headed down to the spa where we were greeted with a bag full of our robes, flip flops and a towel and given a tour of the area. We had some time to spare before our first treatments so we found a spot by the pool and settled in for the day. The pool area was great, with a pool big enough to do lengths, a jacuzzi, steam room and a sauna with a shower to cool down.

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My first treatment of the day was a back massage which was the one I was most excited for and it didn’t disappoint. The only sad part about it was that it was 25 minutes, it was so good that I never wanted it to end. I carry a lot of tension in my shoulders so I was so happy and felt like a completely new person after it.

After each treatment, you are taken to a relaxation room where you can have a drink of water and there are recliner chairs where you can sit and relax before heading back to the pool area. After a little swin, it was time to head into treatment two; a facial. I have never had a facial as I have quite sensitive skin and am often worried that it was break me out but I braved it and I’m so glad I did. The facial was all Elemis products and my consultant really made sure she picked the right products for my skin type. I have never seen my skin look or even feel that good in my life and I found myself going back to the tester station to try more.

After our two treatments, we headed back to the pool area for a dip in the jacuzzi before jumping in the shower and heading home. We were so sad to leave but we have all decided we need to do more spa days. I honestly can’t believe I’ve waited so long to do one but can’t wait for more. It’s so important to treat yourself and what better way to do it than with a back massage and your best friends!

-Hannah X